Hello, friends! I hope everything is going well for you. I’m not going to lie… I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. It seems like I have so much on my To-Do list and I’m just drowning in tasks. As an example, here are a few items off the top of my head:
(1) We have a couple of photoshoots coming up (this weekend and at the end of the month — one was my Mother’s Day gift and the other is to capture Sophie at 12 months) that I need to come up with outfits for and the weather in Western Washington just hasn’t been cooperating for outdoor photos lately so I am hoping for a couple of miracles. I’m also not feeling confident about the way that I look lately so that’s been kind of nagging at me in the back of my mind too.
(2) I need to research and order some baby travel gear ASAP because Sophie is officially too big for her infant car seat and we have a wedding to attend next month in California. Will definitely share my findings once I make those decisions — ugh. With all of the shipping and supply chain delays I definitely need to order them immediately.
(3) I have so many blog posts in the works, but I feel like I never have the time to dedicate to writing so that I actually push “Publish”! I can really only work on them during nap times and during every nap I have to choose between: house cleaning / chores, cleaning myself, maybe squeezing a workout in AND a quick shower, preparing for meals or activities post-nap, or working on blog posts / taking photos / researching and linking products. Sophie typically naps anywhere from 1 to 3 hours (3 hr naps are rare, but they happen!) so I have to be strategic on how I use my time and it’s challenging.
(4) Sophie is turning 1 at the end of the month and I was originally just planning on having a tiny little celebration at home just the three of us, but then a friend suggested a picnic and that sounded pretty casual and fun but there’s so much more to it (which park? is it safe [no hypodermic needles or homeless encampments]? will there be a bathroom station nearby? does the park offer parking? if it starts to rain is there a shelter that we can use instead?) — and with the weather the way it’s been I’m just wondering if I should even bother with the picnic idea… Sophie isn’t going to remember this birthday, but if I don’t do anything I just feel like I’m mailing it in. The mom guilt is real! 😩
(5) I am also stressing because I feel like I am not giving Sophie enough solid foods (meal planning / cooking / eating is such a damn chore, even just for me; I DREAD when my husband asks me what we should get for dinner) and Sophie’s still not interested in using a sippy cup. Granted, she needs more exposure to practice with it, but I know we need to ditch the bottle soon and I just don’t see that happening in the next few weeks. The same goes for her pacifier. I am planning to phase it out after we get home from California (I rely on it so heavily when we travel to keep Sophie quiet and to give her a comfort item when in a new environment).
(6) and somehow in all of that I need to find time to connect with my husband, chat with friends, and complete the ongoing list of other items that I’m not even including here — I’m just feeling overwhelmed by it all. Whenever this happens to me I end up shutting down and not getting anything done, which definitely doesn’t help matters. I’m not looking for advice — I’ll make a list for myself, take it little by little, and remind myself that this too shall pass, but in this moment I’m just feeling heavy. All of this to say, if you’re also feeling this way, just know that you aren’t alone.
Sorry for that super long-winded intro… I just wanted to share a bit more color on why something might feel overwhelming to me even if it may seem easy or mundane to someone else. If you’ve made it this far into the post, thanks for bearing with me! 😜 Today I’m sharing five things that have piqued my interest or things that have been on my mind / going on in my life recently!
My current Friday shower ritual
I couldn’t tell you why I chose Fridays to do this… it was probably just an arbitrary decision, but I also love that it’s kind of a mental marker for the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend!
(1) I replace my Billie razor heads on Fridays! There’s nothing like that fresh, ultra smooth first shave with a new razor. And if you aren’t already on the Billie train, I highly recommend you give them a try!! I wrote a full review here.
(2) Once a week, instead of using my usual daily shampoo, I use my Ouai Detox Shampoo. The lather is so nice and thick and it helps to remove all of the crud that’s built up on my scalp and hair during the week (dry shampoo / product residue, oils, etc.) and leaves my hair feeling so light and fluffy. I also love to use this silicone scalp scrubber to really help lift anything clinging to my scalp (and it feels sooo good; almost as good as when your stylist washes your hair at the salon!).
(3) Lastly, to help repair any damage I’ve done to my hair with styling tools I make my own little conditioner cocktail by mixing Olaplex No 8 Bond Intense Moisturizer Mask with Pantene Damaged Hair Treatment and clip that up to let that sit throughout the rest of the shower and rinse out at the very end.
I always love hopping out of those Friday showers feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated… like a new person! It’s hard to find time for indulgences these days, but this is a little thing that I do for myself which feels like a weekly mini spa session without leaving the house or adding extra time / effort to my shower routine!
Gift IDEAS for the fellas
In case you missed them, check out my recent post that shares a way to get luxury products for less as well as this post from earlier this week that contains gift ideas for guys. If you can believe it, Father’s Day is already next Sunday!!!
MAUI FAMILY PHOTOS
I can’t resist re-sharing this recent post because it makes me so happy. We had the best experience having family photos taken a couple of months ago while on vacation in Maui! I shared some favorite shots and all about our experience here.
I plan to use Printique to have my favorites printed for framing (if and when I can decide which images to print! haha). Printique is also great for printing any digital images, so if you are interested in framing a photo that you took on your smartphone I highly recommend this company! So reasonably priced and excellent quality!
Summer Dress Shopping
I have been lusting over a Juliet Dunn dress for a couple of years now… if you’ve been here for a while you know that I love a bow shoulder and I just adore the cut and prints of these dresses! I’m still deciding which style I want; I have such a soft spot for all-white dresses, but that somewhat limits where I can wear them (as you definitely shouldn’t wear white as a guest to a wedding!). I also think these dresses are prime candidates for dressing both up and down… they could be worn with sandals or heels (thinking a wedge or an espadrille!). I’m leaning toward a blue print, but the lavender is so pretty… how will I choose?! haha
Formula Shortage
Even if you’re not a parent, I’m sure that you’ve heard about the formula shortage that has swept the United States. It has definitely affected us as we are a formula household. We’re so lucky that Sophie is 11 months old so she’s getting pretty close to the age where the pediatrician recommends switching to whole milk (which our pediatrician says is 12 months) so we don’t have to worry about sourcing formula for too much longer, but my heart absolutely breaks for all of my mama friends with newborns that are formula feeding in any capacity.
I did see some positive news which was reported by the New York Times that President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to increase baby formula supplies and offered U.S. planes to speed shipments from abroad to help alleviate the shortage. The NY Times also shared that the F.D.A. reached an agreement with Abbott Laboratories that could reopen the company’s baby formula plant to help ease a nationwide shortage. Abbott Laboratories said if the agency approved reopening its shuttered plant, production could resume and store shelves would be restocked within several weeks (yesterday I saw the timeframe of 6-8 weeks?). The plant has been shut down since February and it has been a major challenge for parents to find formula. I hope that you have been successful in your endeavors to feed your children if you are also struggling to locate formula.
Please consult with your pediatrician with any concerns and I beg you, PLEASE DO NOT water down formula to make it stretch farther and DO NOT TRY TO MAKE YOUR OWN FORMULA AT HOME. I keep seeing stories about people doing this out of desperation and it’s absolutely ludicrous. Please, please, please talk with your child’s physician for alternative solutions.
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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